Before Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Tirupati to Siddhivinayak, 10 richest temples of India

According to the white papers released by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) in 2022, Lord Balaji’s Hundi in Tirumala has an annual income of Rs 1,400 crore. The temple earns through many sources, like precious metals, hair from devotees, interest amount on fixed deposits and hundreds of crores of rupees as donations to various TTD-run trusts. Built in the 10th century, the temple is spread over 16.2 acres.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

With assets worth Rs 1,20,000 crore, Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, is the richest temple in the world. The riches include gold idols, gold, emeralds, antique silver, diamonds and brass. In 2015, a hidden treasure vault was discovered beyond the already well-documented Vault B inside the temple. According to legend, two enormous cobras protect the innermost hidden chamber. The temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar, and only Hindus are allowed entry.

Guruvayur Devaswom, Guruvayoor, Kerala

Pooja at Guruvayur Devasthanom, Kerala.

This centuries-old shrine where lord Vishnu is worshipped as Krishna, draws thousands of devotees from across the country and the globe every year. According to an RTI reply in 2022, this famed temple possesses bank deposits to the tune of Rs 1,737.04 crore and land of 271.05 acres. This is apart from immense collection of gold, silver and precious stones, received as offering from devotees. Set in the Thrissur district, this temple is also known for its elephant festival. Devotees from all over the world gather to witness magnificently dressed elephants. These elephants are then paraded for various performances.

Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu

Vaishno Devi temple, Jammu.

Set at an altitude of 5,200 ft, this temple is considered one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to goddess Durga, who is worshipped as Vaishno Devi. One of the richest temples in India the shrine received over 1,800 kgs of gold, 4,700 kilos of silver, and a whopping Rs 2,000 crore cash in the last two decades (2000-2020) as donation. While the exact history of the caves and how they came to be remain unknown, a multitude of studies carried out on the sacred caves indicate that the temple is a million years old.

Shirdi Sai Baba, Maharashtra  

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi offering prayers at Shri Sai Baba Temple of Shirdi, in Maharashtra in 2018.

This hugely popular temple located at 296 km from Mumbai receives over 25,000 devotees from all over the globe every day. The temple was constructed in 1922 and the throne on which Sai Baba sits is made of 94 kg of gold. Devotees made donations worth more than Rs 400 crore to the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST), Shirdi, in 2022. The donations were in form of cash, payments through cheques and demand drafts, online payments, as well  as gold and silver. The temple trust runs two hospitals where treatment and medicines are provided to patients for free. Moreover, it runs a prasadalaya where over 50,000 to 1 lakh devotees are provided free food everyday.

Golden Temple, Amritsar

Golden Temple, Amritsar. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Located in the heart of Amritsar, the Golden Temple is one of the most iconic religious centers in the country. The shrine was constructed with the help of Guru Arjan, the Fifth Sikh Guru. The building process started in 1581 and took about eight years to finish. Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, used to meditate here before the temple was constructed. About 400 kg of gold has been used to make the upper floors of this temple, hence it is called ‘The Golden Temple.’ The annual income of the shrine is reported to be Rs 500 crore.

Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Meenakshi Amma Temple, Madurai.

Set on the banks of the Vaigai river, Meenakshi Temple is widely recognised for its architecture and 14 multi-tiered gopuram. The main deity of the temple is goddess Meenakshi, the wife of Sundareshwar (lord Shiva). It is one of the few temples in India that attracts more than 20,000 pilgrims and visitors each day and earns a revenue of approximately 60 million annually. The most popular event is the 10-day Meenakshi Tirukalyanam festival celebrated with a ratha (chariot) procession in the month of April-May.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai.

In terms of yearly income and gifts, this two-century-old temple in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi is among the richest in India. The temple's main deity wears 4 kg of gold. Additionally, a Rs 125 crore net worth and a daily income of Rs 30 lakh from contributions have been reported. The outstanding feature of the Ganesh deity here is the tilt of the trunk to the right side. The idol has four hands (Chaturbhuj), which contains a lotus in upper right, a small axe in upper left, holy beads in the lower right and a bowl full of modaks (a perennial favourite with the lord).

Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Carvings on Somnath Temple, Gujarat.

This intricately carved honey-coloured temple in Gujarat is believed to be the place where the first of the 12 jyotirlingas emerged in India. Although the wealth of the temple remains undisclosed, its interior has 130 kgs of gold and another 150 kg on its shikhar. In 2023, the temple trust deposited around 6 kg of gold under GMS and holds assets including 1700 acres of land. Shivratri (usually in February or March) and Kartik Purnima (close to Diwali) are celebrated with great enthusiasm here.

Sri Jagannath Puri Temple, Puri, Odisha

Jagannath Puri Temple. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Jagannath Temple, built in the 11th century by king Indradyumna, is the abode of Jagannath who is a form of lord Vishnu. It is the most revered pilgrimage site for Hindus and is included in the holy Char Dham Yatra along with Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameshwaram. As per reports, the net worth of this temple is Rs 150 crores, and it owns around 30,000 acres of land registered under the name of Lord Jagannath.